Have you watched it yet? I have...
Is it scripted or is this the real deal? I've watched a few episodes that have seemed to be pretty cheesy and scripted and I have seen others that seem like they are just going with the flow.
My other thought is...Are they able to trade up because they are just that good, or is it because they have the show going for them and an established pawn type store that gives them the upper hand? I think it is probably a little of both. I have to hand it to these guys, they are pretty convincing. It takes a lot of skill to seal the deal on a trade. One wrong word can end a deal like that.
I have been on trades aside from my project where I have completely convinced the initial person that I have been in contact with to make this trade. And then the friend or spouse has to walk in and plant seeds of doubt in their mind. Many times the other person does not even know what they are talking about. All they see is the difference in cash value. When it comes to trading up, cash is not an option. Trading value is completely different than cash value. That's a whole other topic for another time.
As I was saying...My other issue is with the fact that they have the show and their store going for them. Of course anyone that has been to their store and found out about the show is going to want to make a trade with them just to be on TV. And what about their Craigslist ads? Are they plain and simple and just about the item they want to trade, or is there information regarding the show and who they are on there? That simple fact would make anyone want to make a trade with them in order to be on TV.
The same was true with Kyle MacDonald of One Red Paperclip. He did not have a show to back him when he started in 2005, but he did have the media after just a few trades. Don't get me wrong, Kyle is a great guy and good at bartering, he pretty much revolutionized the whole Craigslist Trading Up concept.
So what if you don't have the media on your side? There is a simple answer to that question...You just have to work your fanny off and not quit until you either have what you were aiming for, or you have completed the time frame that you set out to accomplish.
Trading up is not easy. You're going to be told no a million times. You have to figure out how you can convince whoever you are wanting to make a trade with that they need whatever you have. You have to find their soft spots. You can ask them why they are wanting to make this trade or what makes you want to let go of what you have. Once you figure that out, then all you have to do is convince them that what you have is going to make their life better in whatever way (either by saving or making money, less stress, make more space, make your spouse happy that it is gone, etc...).
I am by far nowhere close to being the best trader upper. I am just a normal guy that came up with a crazy idea and is not willing to quit. I may never make another trade again that has anything to do with this project, but at least I tried and gave it all I had.
Feel free to comment on this topic and hit me up if you have any questions. For all of you that don't live in the middle of the USA, enjoy the nice cool weather. Last time I checked, it's supposed to hit 109 degrees fahrenheit here in Tulsa, Oklahoma today.
Have a great weekend!
----Matt
"You have to find someone that wants what you have and doesn't want what they have,
then just make a trade." ----Barter Kings----
No comments:
Post a Comment